Page 33 of To Hunt a Ruby Remedy

She turned and addressed Ranulf. “We told him he wasn’t welcome in the forest, but we can’t do much beyond refusing to allow him in Wulfkin.”

Dragon shoulders moved in a clear shrug.

“Be careful,” the innkeeper added. “He is angry.”

Ranulf shrugged once more.

“Aaron is holding him for the next few minutes, then he and a few others plan to escort him at least part way out of the forest. You’ll have a few hours of safety at least. Be careful, though.”

“We will,” I told Mistress Weslet.

I dropped the ruby into the purse, and nearly dropped it when I saw that the heavy weight was made up almost entirely of silver. Gideon would be well beyond angry at this point. He had failed to kill a dragon, lost his crossbow, and now had paid the very man he wanted to kill a small fortune.

I tied the purse closed and slipped it into my pocket. “Thank you for all your help, Mistress Weslet.”

“Thank you for protecting the forest’s secrets, Scarlette. You are welcome in Wulfkin anytime.”

I hugged the other woman and tried not to let the tears fall. I would miss more than just Ranulf when I returned to my normal life.

I climbed back on the dragon’s back and gripped the ridge of scales in front of me. Ranulf took off, and it was as amazing the second time as the first. I could understand why he had never given up shifting into dragon form. Flying was indescribable.

We returned to the cottage, and I gave Ranulf the purse. “I’ll make something to eat.”

Ranulf fished the ruby out of the bag and handed it back to me. “This is yours. I’ll work on the charm today, then we can fly out early this evening. It will be safer to land under the cover of darkness.”

I stood with my arm still outstretched, the purse of silver in my palm. “You can’t mean to give this to me. It is yours.”

“He stole your charm, therefore the fine should go to you.”

“He stole from you, and I can’t even afford the charm in the first place. This could pay for the ruby.”

“I’m not taking the silver, Scarlette, so give up arguing.”

Fine, I wouldn’t argue. Neither would I take the purse home with me.

We stopped just out of view of the clearing as if we had planned it out ahead of time. The sun had already dipped below the tree-line in the west and it was time for me to fly home. Ranulf insisted it wasn’t safe for me to walk and wouldn’t listen to my arguments that it wasn’t safe for him to fly so far from the forest.

Eventually, he had told me that he would carry me in his talons if I didn’t cooperate, and wouldn’t I rather ride on his back?

We faced each other now in silence. Apart from that argument, we had barely spoken all day. Ranulf had been too busy finishing the charm. Even during supper, the conversation had been limited to me telling him how to find my village.

This was it. This was goodbye. I drank in the sight of him, building a memory that would have to last a lifetime. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask if I’d be welcomed back at the cottage if I ever returned, but I swallowed the words. It was unfair to ask. Ranulf had made it clear that he didn’t expect to see me again.

And why should he want me around? We had known each other for such a short time. Even if I felt like I had known him forever, he was unlikely to feel the same. And why should he? I had disrupted his life and caused the hunter to discover his secret. A blackberry pie or two didn’t make up for that.

I wondered what words he fought back as we stared at each other. Then he lunged forward and wrapped me in his arms, his mouth firm against mine. I opened to him, running my hands up the muscles of his back as my tongue danced with his.

The kiss felt like a declaration, but that was probably the hopeless optimist in me. A physical attraction didn’t have to mean anything else. At least I knew that undeniable pull existed for us both. Even if the kiss was one thing, and one thing only. A farewell.

Ranulf lifted his head. “May the gods and goddesses grant you every joy you so richly deserve, Scarlette.”

Not even Affenala could answer such a prayer. He was the only joy I wanted.

“May the gods protect you and grant you the peace you desire.” I let my arms fall to my sides and stepped back. “Thank you for everything, Ranulf.”

Fifteen

Ranulf

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